Conclusion

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is the most versatile all-in-one lens currently available for the EOS R camera system, and thankfully it bucks the trend of most super-zooms by actually being a good performer in terms of the image quality.

Paired with the EOS RP body, it makes for a well-balanced, intuitive package that will more than satisfy a lot of users.

Canon have mainly focused on making super-fast, high-quality primes and moderate zooms for their fledgling full-frame mirrorless range, but the RF 24-240mm demonstrates another advantage of Canon's system by delivering a versatile 10x zoom that's surprisingly compact and lightweight.

In conjunction with the EOS RP, this is truly a combination that you could carry round all day without noticing, without any real compromises in terms of the build quality. Sure, some degree of weather-proofing would have been nice, but given the price, this is hardly a surprising omission.

In terms of features, the RF 24-240mm has a lot to offer for what is after all a non-L-series lens, most notably built-in image stabilisation worth up to 5-stops. It's also the first full-frame lens to feature Dynamic IS for smoother results while shooting video.

The switchable Focus/Control Ring is a nice inclusion, although obviously not so great if you happen to shoot a lot using manual focus, as is the zoom lock switch to prevent lens creep.

Auto-focusing proved to be quick, quiet and reliable on the Canon EOS RP camera body that we tested the lens with thanks to the latest Nano Ultrasonic Motor technology.

Sadly Canon haven't provided either a lens hood or a padded case in the box - both are optional, costly extras.

The RF 24-105mm offers an extremely versatile focal range whilst being sharp in the centre from 24mm to 240mm, even when shooting wide-open.

Performance at the edges isn't quite so good, especially at the longer focal lengths, but that's a common complaint about this type of super-zoom lens.

Canon have admittedly employed some digital trickery in the form of a built-in Digital Lens Optimizer (DLO) Profile to make the RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM images as good as they can be.

If you only shoot JPEG, you won't notice anything untoward, but there's some pretty obvious digital correction of the Raw files going on, including a very obvious vignetting effect at the 24mm focal length that disappears in the corresponding JPEG file. You need to apply the correction profile in your editing software to make the Raw file match the JPEG.

Most users of this lens either won't notice or won't be bothered by this, instead enjoying the crisp images, ease-of-use and compactness that the RF 24-240mm offers.

Even the price of the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM isn't too bad considering the focal range, features and performance that are on offer, especially if you purchase it as part of a kit with the EOS RP body.

For many people, this will be the only lens that they'll ever need, and thankfully Canon have come up with a super-zoom that's definitely an exception to the usual rules.